In a disturbing incident, Colonel Ankush Chaudhary, a Commanding Officer supervising a key Line of Control (LoC) fencing project, was allegedly physically assaulted by Assistant Defence Estate Officer (ADEO) Triyam Singh after he refused to approve crucial board proceedings for the project.
The altercation reportedly occurred on June 12 around 11:45 am when Colonel Chaudhary visited Triyam Singh’s office. The ADEO allegedly not only refused to cooperate but also behaved aggressively before physically attacking the officer. The project had gained urgency following a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, and the fencing was seen as a strategic necessity to prevent infiltration.
Video Goes Viral, Sparks Military Veteran Anger
The video of the incident has gone viral on social media, shared by army veteran Sushil Singh Sheoran, who wrote on X, “The Defence Estate Office (DEO) within the Ministry of Defence is known for its corruption and often tries to stall projects in exchange for bribes.”
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
The footage and allegations have triggered widespread outrage, especially among army veterans and defence supporters online. Following the assault, Sikh soldiers reportedly retaliated, escalating the situation further.
Veterans React: “Touching a CO Has Consequences”
Sqn Ldr Varlin Panwar (Retd) condemned the assault but expressed concern over the soldiers’ reaction:
“Assaulting any government officer while on duty is a grave crime. While what the ADEO did is completely unacceptable, I don’t agree that the CO and the troops should have taken the law into their own hands… Should have used that as evidence and thrown the ADEO out of service.”
KJS Dhillon took a firmer stance, stating on X:
“For the soldiers, CO (Commanding Officer) is next only to God. Touching a CO has consequences.”
Lt Gen Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd) echoed this:
“Touching a CO has consequences. If his soldiers are around, it is playing with fire. Proud of them.”
Aftermath and Police Action
The fallout from the incident led to the suspension of 12 police officers, though specific details regarding their involvement remain unclear. As of now, there’s no official statement from the Ministry of Defence on further action against the ADEO.